It’s almost like Madison High shortstop Corey Oswalt has played under a shroud. Sure, big league scouts know who he is, but many prep baseball fans do not.

“Corey has been one of the most overlooked baseball players in the last few years,” Madison coach Robert Lovato said. “He deserves a lot more love than he’s getting for the numbers he’s put up.”

Oswalt batted .541 with four home runs and 21 RBI as a junior last season for the Warhawks.

Not unexpectedly, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Oswalt has excelled in national showcases this summer. He batted .450 in a Georgia event and .400 in the national Florida showcase. He expects to continue his hot hand on his home turf when he represents the West All-Stars in the Perfect Game All-American Classic on Sunday at Petco Park.

“He demands attention,” said West assistant Manny Hermosillo, a longtime coach at Montgomery High. “He’s an outstanding specimen with plenty of potential. Not only is he a tremendous hitter, he has great range in the field.”

Oswalt, who has accepted a scholarship offer to Oregon, believes he probably will wind up playing third base rather than shortstop at higher levels.

Lovato said the 2010 Western League and San Diego Section Division IV Player of the Year could end up pitching, too.

“I look forward to having Corey out for his senior year, with maybe some time on the hill. He’s been clocked at 91-92 mph with some great off-speed stuff,” Lovato said.

“He is constantly working on his game to prepare himself for the next level. He is a very dedicated and motivated athlete. He hits every day during the offseason with his dad to stay sharp.”

This summer’s showcases in the South — also conducted by Perfect Game, a baseball scouting service — have been an eye-opener for Oswalt.

“It’s hot and humid — much different than California,” Oswalt said. “But hot and humid as it is, you just have to grind it out. That’s what you have to do to make a living.”

Oswalt had to make a choice between playing in the Perfect Game event at Petco Park or competing in the Under Armour All-American Classic at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.

“It was definitely a tough decision — to play at home or at Wrigley Field,” he said. “The way I looked at it was all my family could see me play at Petco. There’s nothing better than playing at home. The competition is the same, but why not face them on your home field.”

Oswalt has already played one game at Petco, competing for Madison when the Warhawks faced Coronado during the annual weekend of high school games downtown.

“I don’t know whether that makes me a little more comfortable,” he said, “but the fact that I’ve played there before can only help.”